BPA Early Career Researchers Network (ECRN)
Biological Psychiatry Australia has an active network of early career scientists who have established a range of awards and avenues to help young scientists.
To find out more about the BPA-ECRN, head to their twitter page here. For all general enquiries please email biolpsychaustralia.ecrn@gmail.com
Funding Opportunities
BPA2024 ECRN Travel Grant – Applications Now Open
To help ECRs attend the BPA2024 conference in Sydney. Click here for details and application. Closes 26 July 2024.
The BPA-ECRN Student and Early Career Researcher Excellence Plenary
Closed for 2024.
The BPA-ECRN Professional Development Grant
Click here for application details. Closes 6 September 2024.
Previous Winners of the ECR Excellence Plenary:
- 2023: Alexandre Guerin (The University of Melbourne) and Cassandra Wannan (The University of Melbourne)
- 2022: Luke Ney (Queensland University of Technology)
- 2021: Divyangana Rakesh (The University of Melbourne)
BPA-ECRN Mentoring Program
Each year around the BPA conference, the BPA ECRN runs a mentoring program. This program aims to connect ECRs with more senior researchers (mid-career onwards) so ECRs can receive advice, discuss ideas and hear about career opportunities that may not be available at their own institution. Ultimately, this program supports the future careers of our ECRs while also welcoming them into our society.
The success of this program relies on senior researchers (mid-career onwards) volunteering some of their time to mentor ECRs. We therefore highly encourage any researcher who is attending the 2022 BPA conference to take part in this program! Matches will be based upon research topics where possible, but ECRs are encouraged to make the most of this opportunity to receive one on one guidance and career advice, regardless of their mentors area of expertise.
Here’s what past mentors and mentees had to say about the program:
“The BPA ECRN mentoring program enabled me to meet and discuss my research and career plans with a senior researcher in my field in a more casual and relaxed context. I still catch up with my mentor every now and then, she has a lot of fantastic advice to offer!”
Alex Guerin (mentee)
“I was delighted to be able to serve as a mentor for an Early Career Researcher (ECR) of Biological Psychiatry Australia (BPA). ECRs are the future of our society and our field, and I think it is important to nurture their passion for science, while guiding them on how to make the most of their time in this extraordinarily exciting and important field of biomedical research. I enjoyed the experience. All the way with BPA!”
Prof. Anthony Hannan (mentor)
Previous Awardees
2023: Hollie Byrne (The University of Melbourne), Sylvia Lin (The University of Melbourne), Luke New (Queensland University of Technology)
2022: Rebecca Cooper (The University of Melbourne), Diana Sketriene (The Florey Institute, University of Melbourne), Mia Langguth (University of Sydney), Elizabeth Haris
2021: Rhianne Scicluna (The University of Sydney), Lauren Hennessy (The University of Western Australia), Jessica Moretti (The University of Western Australia)
2020: Samara Brown (The University of Wollongong), Patrick Laing (The University of Melbourne), Joel Raymond (The University of Sydney), Sid Chopra (Monash University)
2019: Volkan Uzungil (The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health), Anna Horton (The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health), Alice Petty (The Queensland Brain Institute, Jeremy Lum (The University of Wollongong)
2018: Roberta Anversa (The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health), Katie Drummond (The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health), Kyna-Anne Conn (The Queensland Brain Institute)
ECRN Committee Members
| Chair | Samara Walpole | University of Wollongong |
| Deputy Chair | Warda Syeda | University of Melbourne |
| Treasurer | Helen Clunas | University of Wollongong |
| Secretary | Cassandra Wannan | University of Melbourne/Orygen |
| Social Media | Juliana Lys de Sousa Alves Neri | University of Wollongong |
| Xavier Maddern | University of Melbourne/Florey | |
| Awards subcommittee | Sylvia Lin | University of Melbourne |
| Trevor Steward | University of Melbourne | |
| Eveline Mu | Monash University | |
| Isobel Williams | University of New South Wales | |
| Webinar subcommittee | Sevil Ince | University of Melbourne |
| Emiliana Tonini | University of Sydney | |
| Elizabeth Haris | University of New South Wales | |
| Mentoring subcommittee | Bruna Panizzutti | Deakin University |
| Shrujna Patel | University of Sydney |